graphic design ii: furniture store logo

Today, I started working on potential logos for the furniture store. My original idea for the name of the store was “Michael Allen” but I am not leaning more toward “1087″ (pronounced ten eighty-seven).

I am town between the two because they both speak to potential demographics I am interested in targeting. Michael Allen attracts more sophisticated people who are going to research the products before purchasing, like to be pampered in the store (and in life in general), shop on Saturday and Sunday mornings while strolling around the city with their significant other and lead an overall classy lifestyle. On the other hand, 1087 attracts more younger, hipper people who are more concerned about the design and style of the product than the overall function and if it is going to be a piece they keep for the long haul. They are fun, are constantly on the go and tend to make more impulse decisions and purchases.

The logos I have created are below. I did decide on a beach-like color palette, which will fit in for either name I choose. Both designs could go to very creative heights in terms of branding, signage and even store design. Which is your favorite?

graphic design ii: furniture store identity system

For the next project in advanced graphic design, we are working to create a complete identity system for a fictional modern furniture store. The store’s esthetic and overall business model is based on Design Within Reach. Included in the identity system will be:

• Original name
• Logo
• Letterhead
• Envelope
• Business Card
• Promotional poster for store’s opening
• Exterior sign for the building
• Small mailer/brochure
• Optional: mailable print catalog of at least 24 pages

I am really excited to get started on this assignment because the finished product will be a perfect addition to both my design and PR portfolios. I am going to treat this assignment as a PR blitz for a newly-established company. I will be able to showcase my grassroots marketing + PR skills in addition to the type of designer I am. I love the client is a modern company because my design esthetic is becoming more and more modern driven with simple lines and a clean grid system.

Below is where I am starting to gather my inspiration from. Right now, I am primarily looking for inspiration for a logo and color palette. Those two will be the driving forces behind everything I do from this point forward.

The assignment is due in a month so while I have plenty of time to get everything done, I am going to have to plan ahead for production and plenty of critiques.

And this is what I’m thinking about for potential color palettes. Thoughts?

tony.

I shot the composite pictures for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity tonight. It was a lot of fun to see the guys I haven’t seen in a while and to have a little fun. Tony was my assistant for the evening, making sure everyone was looking spiffy. He did a great job.

While we were waiting for people to get ready (everyone shared two ties so that everyone had on the same tie), I took some funny pictures of Tony. This one was not staged at all and I think it turned out awesome. I love the lines and the sass in his face.

graphic design ii: final postcard design

The postcards are finally complete. I am not in the place I originally thought I would be but I am happy with how they ended up. I think the thing that is so different from the first draft to the last is that the postcards are now speaking a very different message. I have come up with very direct, strategic copy for each postcard that alludes to something about today’s design—mobile, digital photography, increasing business and effective, beautiful identity systems.

The postcards are using my signature shades of green and blue. These colors have definitely become a part of who I am and people are recognizing me for them. The colors can be found on my website, business cards and a lot of the work I have recently done. I have thought about whether using the color so frequently is going to become annoying to some or almost degrade my work. But in the end, this is my personal copyright, if you will, for my design style and esthetic. When people see these colors being used (in addition to the fonts I regularly use in my work), it’s instantly recognizable as mine. And for that, I am grateful.

go red zumbathon for the american heart association

This gallery contains 26 photos.

I had so much fun photographing the Go Red Zumbathon at Drake University last Saturday morning. The Zumba instructor, Hannah, asked me to stop by and capture some of the energy in the room—and a lot of energy it was! … Continue reading →

new business cards

I have been in need of some new business cards for quite some time and I finally had the motivation to come up with a couple of designs. I’ll be needing them for both an advanced graphic design class and the graphic design practicum so I’m just getting a head start on both fronts.

I wanted to take a very different route from my current business card, which is very loud and packs a lot of information into a small space. Both of the designs below are simple, to the point and have a lot of white space. I’m hoping they’re a little witty, too. I hope to have the new design finalized quickly so I can get them printed and start handing them out at networking events and after interviews.

What do you think?

design one: front

 

design one: back

design two: front

design two: back

graphic design ii: updated postcard drafts

Since my last post, I’ve taken a pretty drastic turn from my initial postcard designs to where I am now. I finally found a way to incorporate my needs as a freelance designer + photographer with the requirements of the objectives brief.

I thought the previous drafts didn’t incorporate enough of a juxtaposition between my edginess as a designer and my simplistic design tendencies. What I really wanted to convey, though, was my all-encompassing design abilities and how hiring a graphic designer to create great, inspiring design for a business can increase sales and attract new customers.

What do you think of the new versions?